The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-04-30
4 TEACHERS REFLECTION

There are two things of which we, as
teachers, ought not to lose sight in our
work. One Of them lie that we ought to
know just what we are going tn aic1 to
do each day, month and term before we
commence that work. The second is.
when that time is passed. whether ii be
after each days work, at the end Of the
week, or after we have closed thelterm's
work,we ought to reflect little and see
IL we have accomplished anything dur
ing this time. IL so, what has it been,
and has it been what we intended to
accomplish during this time? Or have
we drifted away from our pre-arranged
work and spent the time with little pro-
priety for school, room work?
1t should be remembered by all, and
especially so by teachers, that we know
nothing of the future except by the
past. The farmer can only tell what is
the most profitable crop to plant in a
certain soil and climate by either his
own previous experience or by that of
his fellow farmer. The physician ad-
ministers certain medicines for certain
diseases only from previous experience.
A general lays his plans for battle
from the experience Of his predecessors.
The only royalty that We can claim
about the path on which we travel is
past experience. Too often we prac-
tice the old saying, and by the way it is
often misleading, that, "let the past
take care of itself and we take care of
the future
When pupil is doing his best work
he is, no doubt, unconscious Of his pro-
gress, but the teacher ought never be
unconscious Of the propress Of her pu-
pills. There is no more wholesome sub
ject for teachers occasional reflec-
tion than the work just gone over In the
scho0lroom.
Not only. when can get my money
order cashed, but also, have / earned
that very same orderp Has the disci-
pline, moral influence and the like been
proper for the past? Have ] done
equally well in all my classes2 Here
is point in which am afraid we are
all somewhat deficient. Often there is
tendency to slight those branches in
which we are deficient ourselves or
have no special liking for whether they
be important branches or not.
Many times moments reflection
will enable US to introduce some excr-
cises that will cause the lazy afternoon
to pass of more pleasantly. An ounce
OF prevention is worth more than a
pound of cure, and we can only select
the preventive by carefully considering
the thing to be prevented.
1t is often profitable to note the little
difficulties during the day for consider
alton at night and if you cannot decide
them for yourself, remember that 1t is
no crime to ask your fellow teacher
about the matter for instance through
the Educational Column Of the DE
SMET LEADER. r. L. 4.
In the Sandwich Islands all children
between the ages Of six and fifteen are
obliged to attend school.
Personal thinking determines per-
sonal character. II didn't Think has
been tho cause Of more misery than
could be written in a thousand volumes.
- pyUcfscoI TSocber
The people of the United States an
nually expend $500 200, 600 for liquors,
$500, ,OO0, 900 for tobacco, 2505. .OO0, 900,
for bread and $3Os, ,OOO, coo for meat.
Only small fraction Of these sums is
paid for education. Millions for drink
and tobacco and thousands for learning.
A Synopsis Of the New School Law Pre-.
pared by the Author Of the
Measure.
| The new school law. the passage Of which,
| by the late Legislature was secured by Terri
torial Superintendent A. Sheridan Jones, pro-
vides for q Territorial board OF education con.
sisting OF three members. O president, Vice
president and secretary. The Territorial Sc
perintcndent Ia president or the board. and
while not sitting N board the other two
! members are assistants to the superintendent
In the general work OF the department.. The
| board OF education are given many powers